UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government notifies amendment to LPG control order to facilitate consumers opting for PNG connections
Q1. In the context of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Control Order, which one of the following best describes the legal nature of such a 'Control Order'?
- A. It is subordinate (delegated) legislation issued by the executive under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- B. It is always a standalone statute passed exclusively by Parliament for petroleum products
- C. It is invariably a constitutional order promulgated by the President under Article 123
- D. It is a binding judicial directive issued solely by the Supreme Court
Q2. With reference to the statutory basis of India's gas-sector regulation, consider the following statements:
1. The LPG (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order derives its authority from the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, whereas the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is constituted under a separate Act of 2006.
2. Both the LPG Control Order and the PNGRB Act, 2006 empower the Central Government to fix the retail selling price of piped natural gas in city gas networks.
3. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 permits the Central Government to delegate its order-making powers to State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The LPG (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order derives its authority from the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, whereas the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is constituted under a separate Act of 2006.
- Both the LPG Control Order and the PNGRB Act, 2006 empower the Central Government to fix the retail selling price of piped natural gas in city gas networks.
- The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 permits the Central Government to delegate its order-making powers to State Governments.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026 (notified 25 May 2026) was issued by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- B. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
- C. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
- D. Ministry of Power
Q4. The May 2026 amendment to the LPG Control Order is described by the government as being particularly beneficial primarily for which one of the following groups?
- A. Transferable employees, migrants, tenants and students who may relocate to non-PNG areas
- B. Below-poverty-line women beneficiaries newly enrolled under Ujjwala Yojana
- C. Commercial and industrial bulk LPG consumers in metropolitan cities
- D. Rural households that do not yet have an electricity connection
Q5. With reference to the two 2026 amendments to the LPG Control Order, consider the following statements:
1. The 14 March 2026 amendment made surrender of the LPG connection mandatory for households that also held a PNG connection.
2. The 25 May 2026 amendment replaced the blanket mandatory surrender with a choice between termination within 30 days and a transfer voucher.
3. The 14 March 2026 amendment allowed PNG-holding consumers to continue booking LPG refills without any restriction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 14 March 2026 amendment made surrender of the LPG connection mandatory for households that also held a PNG connection.
- The 25 May 2026 amendment replaced the blanket mandatory surrender with a choice between termination within 30 days and a transfer voucher.
- The 14 March 2026 amendment allowed PNG-holding consumers to continue booking LPG refills without any restriction.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. In the context of the 2026 LPG Control Order amendments, the objective described as 'One Household, One Gas Connection' essentially seeks to:
- A. ensure that a household with a piped natural gas connection does not simultaneously retain a subsidised domestic LPG connection, thereby avoiding duplicate gas allocation
- B. guarantee every household exactly one free LPG refill cylinder every month
- C. restrict each household to a single CNG-powered vehicle
- D. require every household to choose between an electricity connection and a gas connection
Q7. The LPG (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, through which the 'One Household, One Gas Connection' approach is being operationalised, is issued under the authority of which one of the following?
- A. Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- B. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
- C. Petroleum Act, 1934
- D. Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962
Q8. In the City Gas Distribution (CGD) framework administered by the PNGRB, the term 'Geographical Area (GA)' most precisely refers to:
- A. an area authorised by the PNGRB to an entity for developing a CGD network to supply PNG and CNG
- B. a natural gas-bearing sedimentary basin allotted for exploration and production
- C. a natural gas pipeline tariff zone notified by the Ministry of Petroleum
- D. a special economic zone reserved exclusively for petrochemical industries
Q9. With reference to LPG subsidy and pricing arrangements in India, consider the following:
1. Under PAHAL (DBTL), the LPG subsidy is transferred directly into the consumer's bank account while cylinders are sold at a uniform retail selling price.
2. Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a deposit-free LPG connection is provided to an adult woman of a poor household.
3. Under PMUY, a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder is provided for a limited number of refills.
4. Piped natural gas supplied to households is sold to consumers at the same subsidised administered price as domestic LPG under PAHAL.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Under PAHAL (DBTL), the LPG subsidy is transferred directly into the consumer's bank account while cylinders are sold at a uniform retail selling price.
- Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a deposit-free LPG connection is provided to an adult woman of a poor household.
- Under PMUY, a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder is provided for a limited number of refills.
- Piped natural gas supplied to households is sold to consumers at the same subsidised administered price as domestic LPG under PAHAL.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. The authorisation of entities to develop and operate City Gas Distribution networks in a specified Geographical Area is carried out by which one of the following?
- A. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
- B. Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH)
- C. Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)
- D. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)
Q11. As stated by the Government in 2026 amid the West Asia developments (e.g., at the Inter-Ministerial Group of Ministers review), India's rolling stock of LPG was said to be sufficient for approximately how many days?
- A. 30 days
- B. 45 days
- C. 60 days
- D. 90 days